Visible index



July 4, 1933. R. A. FURLONG 1,916,210

VISIBLE INDEX Original Filed Nov. 26, 1929 applicant on November 26, 1929 and Patented July 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLAND A. FURLONG, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOR TO THE YAWMAN 8a ERBE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, O YORK Original application filed November 26, 1929, Serial No; 409,771.

A ri127, 1931. Serial No. 533,141.

applicapresent relates generally to visible index systems. In visible index structures the tray for visible index cards is mounted slidably in a cabinet. In accordance with the subject matter of the parent application the tray is mounted hingedly on a slidable carrier, the parts being so related to the container for the tray that it may readily be moved inand out and when exposed can be supported conveniently for posting in a position most convenient to the operator. The principal object of the present invention is to provide in association with the supporting means for the tray mechanism means for automatically elevating the top car-d when the tray is in working position so that the visible index cards can be more readily manipulated without interference by the top card. This improved mechanism, conversely, insures the restoration of the top card to its normal position automatically when the tray is moved back into its container. Another object of the invention is to simplify all of the parts which are associated for the their cost of. manufacture and facilitating their assembly and disassembly while insuring the most convenient operation in use.

These and other objects are attained by means which will be described more particularly in connection with the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: v

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a cabinet with one of the trays embodying the invention, withdrawn for use andsupported in angular position, the top card bein elevated.

igure 2 is a fragmentary detailed view in side elevation showing a tray in horizontal position and the relation between its supporting means and the top card.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in plan of the tray shown in Figure 2 and taken on the plane indicated by the line 33=of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, the supporting ways for the tray hanger being illustrated in section.

This application is a division of tion Serial No. 409,771 filed by the purposes indicated above reducing ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW VISIBLE INDEX Divided and this application filed equal the number of trays to be mounted within the cabinet. At the front of the cabinet is provided an opening to receive a vertically disposed door (Z which is hinged by pins d at its lower edge so that it may be swung outwardly and downwardly to expose the trays within. At the bottom of the cabinet at each side thereof are disposed opposed channels 6 in which the pins cl may slide when the door is slid inwardly in a horizontal position within a recess which is formed beneath the trays for that purpose. The front wall of the cabinet adjacent the opening provided for the door d may be flanged with a reverse bend as indicated'at a to constitute an end wall for the series of ways 5 and to limit the outward movement of the tray support as will'be described later.

One of the card trays is illustrated in F igure 1 at f. A finger pull 7 may be provided at its front end. This tray at its rear end carries upstanding lugs f at opposite sides through which may pass retractible retaining pins 9. The carrier for the tray is formed as a generally U-shaped wire frame it having reversely bent legs k adapted to be received slidably within the longitudinal grooves Z) in opposed ways 6 at opposite sides of the cabinet; The carrier it is engaged with the upstanding lugs f by means of the pins 9 which may be retracted to disengage the tray from its carrier if it is desired to remove it entirely. Referring now to Figures l and 3 it will be apparent that the interengagement of the pins 9 with the carrier 7; forms a hinged connection for the tray 7 when withdrawn from the cabinet so that it maydrop down into convenient working position. When the tray is to be restored to the cabinet it is raised to a horizontal position and moved rearwardly. WVhen the lugs f on the tray engage the loops in the reverse bends of the carrier h, continued movement of the tray will force the carrier rearwardly in its supporting ways I) to a point where the tray is completely housed. Contrariwise, when the tray is pulled forwardly for use the pins 9 will slide along the le s of the carrier it until the lugs f engage tie forward bend in the carrier whereupon con-" tinued movement of the tray will cause the carrier legs h to slide in the grooves b to the forward position indicated in Figure 3. This forward movement of the carrier is positively arrested by engagement of the ends of the legs h with the front wall a of the cabinet. g The drawing shows the door d used as a shelf for supporting any one of the trays when withdrawn in desired working position. \Vhen a tray is withdrawn it can be lowered on its hinged support until it rests on the forward edge of the door cl.

It is generally the practice to provide atop card for -sible index trays which normally rests flat on the bank of cards to hold them snugly in position while the tray is being moved in and out. Such a top card is illustrated at 2' and is shown as pivoted on a cross rod 5, at the rear end of the tray. In accordance with the invention this top card is also formed with a forwardly extending flange i which is parallel to the top card 2' but spaced therefrom as shown in Figure 1. The spacing of this flange 2' is such that when the tray is withdrawn the wire carrier h engages the flange 2' so that continued movement of the tray results in the top card i being thrown up from the visible index cards through the interengagement of the carrier h with the flange. The same action occurs when the tray is droppedto an angular position. In Figure 2 the top card is shown in normal position and the relation of the flange 2' to the carrier h is clearly indicated, the tray at this moment being in horizontal position. When the tray is dropped angularly it will be apparent that it moves about its pins 9 as a center while the carrier 71 re mains stationary. The pivotal support 11 for the top cards and the flange 2' likewise moves on an are about the center g, the result being that the flange itself moves relatively to the carrier hand is thrown upwardly as shown in Figure 1. When the tray is restored to horizontal position the contrary action occurs and the top card is permitted to drop by gravity into its normal flat position on the index cards at which time the tray can be slid rearwardly into the cabinet.

It will be evident that changes in the details of construction can be made particu-' larly in respect to the character of the hinges and pivots employed and the precise form of carrier and its ways. Changes in design are to be deemed within the scope of the invention so long as they fall under the appended claims.

What I claim is 1; In combination with a card tray having a top card hinged thereto at one point, a support for the tray adapted to slide in a cabinet and slidably hinged therewith and means carried on the top card and operatively engaged with the support at a point eccentric to the said hinged point between the top card and tray whereby the top card is automatically elevated by engagement of said means with the support when the tray is fully withdrawn from the cabinet.

2. In combination with a card tray, a carrier therefor adapted to slide in a cabinet and comprising a U-shaped member part of which extends transversely of the tray, means to support the tray hingedly and slidably on said member, a top card hinged to the tray at one point and means on the top card engageable with the said transmrsely extending portion of the carrier at a point eccentric to the said hinged point to elevate the top card automatically by en agement of said means with the carrier when the tray is fully withdrawn.

3. A card tray having a top card, a support for said tray hinged thereto whereby the tray may be dropped to an angular position with respect thereto, and means on the top earl engaging the support at a point eccentric to the axis of said hinge to automatically elevate the top card when the tray is dropped to said angular position.

4-. .A card tray having a top card a support for said tray hinged thereto whereby the tray may be dropped to an angular position with respect thereto and a flange on the top card engaging the support at a point eccentric to the axis of said hinge to automatically elevate the top card when the tray is dropped to said angular position.

5. In combination with a card tray, a carrier with which the tray is slidably hinged comprising a U-shaped wire having a portion extending transversely of the tray, a top card pivoted on the tray and a flange carried with the top card engageable with the said trans versely extending portion of the carrier when the tray is withdrawn at a point eccentric to the hinge point between the top card and tray whereby the top card is automatically elevated by engagement of the flange with the wire when the tray is dropped to an angular position with respect to the carrier.

Ihis specification signed this 22nd day of April A. 1931.

ROLAND A. FURLONGL 

